High-class Spring Joy

Jiang Qingyun became even angrier upon seeing Chu Jingyu. Immediately, she burst into tears, rushed to Chu Jingyu, and spread her arms to show him and Jiang Qingge how soaked she was, almost like a drowned rat.

"Brother Jingyu, look! Ever since the old lady punished me last time, the maids and servants in this Marquis's mansion have treated me like dirt, showing me no respect or reverence whatsoever. They bully me at every turn. Although I did make mistakes, and although I unknowingly destroyed the old Marquis's portrait, I have paid the price for my actions. Why should they bully me like this? All I did in my life was practice whipping in the back garden for a while, and they threatened me with scissors and splashed me with dirty water used for watering flowers. Brother Jingyu... so you really know you were wrong? Why won't you forgive Yun'er? They even said that if it weren't for you stopping us, my sister and I would have been kicked out of the Marquis's mansion long ago. They also said that we are daughters of minor officials, unworthy of entering the Marquis's mansion, and that we are shameful..."

"Yun'er, don't be angry, don't be angry. They were just saying it casually. When my father was alive, he treated the servants in the mansion well, so naturally he was loved and respected by them. You ruined my father's portrait last time, so naturally they were angry and resentful. They just vented their anger and that's it. What they say doesn't matter at all. They're just a bunch of servants, they can't affect anything."

Chu Jingyu didn't care about Jiang Qingyun at all; what he cared about was what Jiang Qingge was thinking and whether she would be sad.

Jiang Qingge sighed, looking at Jiang Qingyun's serious expression and speaking in a reproachful tone: "A-Jing, don't spoil her too much. It's Yun'er's own fault. She shouldn't have provoked Qingyuan. Knowing how important Qingyuan is to you, you still made things difficult for her time and time again. Yesterday, Qingyuan made a name for herself in front of the Empress Dowager. Your Qingyuan is such a capable person, receiving a reward from the Empress Dowager, which meant that all the servants and maids in the entire Zhenguo Marquis's mansion received rewards. Naturally, they're all on Qingyuan's side. This is what Qingyuan deserves. It was Yun'er who provoked Qingyuan before, but she couldn't bring herself to apologize to her, which is why the maids and servants stood up for Qingyuan. This is the punishment Yun'er should bear. Don't try to comfort her."

As Jiang Qingge spoke, Jiang Qingyun cried even more aggrievedly: "Sister, I want to apologize to Qingyuan. I know I accidentally hurt him with the whip that day, and it was indeed my fault. I also caused him to lose his purse. But I really did send people to look for the purse, and it really wasn't in the lake. Later, I wanted to apologize to Qingyuan, but she looked at me and turned around and left. No matter how I chased after her, I couldn't catch up with her."

As Jiang Qingyun spoke, she cried so loudly that it seemed as if she had been beaten to death by Qing Yuan!

She then looked at Chu Jingyu: "Brother Jingyu, please help me apologize to Miss Qingyuan. She's lost the hearts of the maids and servants now. If she calms down and stops holding a grudge against me, my life in this mansion will be easier."

After Jiang Qingyun and Jiang Qingge mentioned it, Chu Jingyu remembered the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet yesterday. Qingyuan had received a reward from the Empress Dowager. Indeed, all eyes in Bianjing City were now on the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion.

Chu Jingyu wasn't stupid; how could he not understand what Jiang Qingyun meant from her words?

She suspected that the servants and maids were acting on Qingyuan's orders to deliberately bully her.

Chu Jingyu immediately frowned, ignoring Jiang Qingyun beside him, and looked at Jiang Qingge: "Ge'er, Qingyuan is not that kind of person. She has a good nature and is the kindest person. She couldn't possibly have done this. You don't need to worry anymore."

Jiang Qingyun, standing to the side, refused to believe it and couldn't bear to hear Chu Jingyu speak up for Qingyuan: "But Brother Jingyu..."

"Enough! I told you, A-Yuan isn't that kind of person. She's never complained to me or confided in me about her grievances. I've been taking care of your sister at Baiyun Courtyard for almost half a month, and she's never lost her temper with me. If she's angry, she just keeps it to herself. How could someone as kind as her possibly harm anyone?"

As Chu Jingyu spoke, he noticed the stunned expressions on Jiang Qingge and Jiang Qingyun's faces and realized that his tone had been a bit too harsh: "Alright, I was just in a bad mood today. You two should get some rest and not leave Baiyun Courtyard unless necessary."

After saying that, Chu Jingyu turned and left.

Jiang Qingyun stammered, "Sister... Brother Jingyu... it's one thing for him to be mean to me, it's another for him to distrust me, but how could he be mean to you? He... he's actually starting to distrust you, sister?"

Jiang Qingge was an extremely intelligent person, and naturally understood what those words meant. However, her sister's words were like salt rubbing into her wounds, causing her excruciating pain.

Jiang Qingge remained expressionless, clenching her fists. The angrier she became, the calmer her voice grew: "Since we can't get rid of her for now, we must make her feel the pain I'm in now. Tell them to be ruthless over there, just leave her alive."

-

Qingyuan is now very happy and carefree, wishing that Chu Jingyu could stay in Baiyun Courtyard every day and never come out for the rest of his life.

That way, she wouldn't have to help people get up, dress, or eat, and she wouldn't have to look at Chu Jingyu's face, which was so annoying it made her feel disgusted.

Having finally found some free time, Qingyuan thought about how to repay the Third Young Master. He had painted those two Buddha paintings, and the Third Young Master had also made a significant contribution to her winning the Empress Dowager's reward.

If it weren't for the Third Young Master's ability to present the Buddha statue to Princess Jing'an, even if she had embroidered it, it probably wouldn't have been able to withstand the crazy methods of the two Jiang sisters.

She had sent food and sweets before, but Qingyuan thought she should send something thoughtful and befitting of the Third Young Master's status.

While making the knot, he thought and thought, but he couldn't come up with a solution even after thinking for most of the day.

Qingyuan sighed, "Why hasn't Hongdou come back yet? It's so late."

After a while, night fell, and it was getting dark. Hongdou still hadn't returned, and Qingyuan suddenly realized something was wrong.

Hongdou has a sweet tooth and can be playful at times, but she always knows her limits and always returns home before evening.

They haven't come back yet, could something have happened to them?

Qingyuan didn't care about anything else and rushed to the gate of the mansion. Now the servants, maids and guards all recognized her. When they saw her and heard that Hongdou hadn't returned yet, they didn't say much and immediately let her out through the side gate, and even tried their best to cover her up.

Qingyuan went to all the stalls that Hongdou used to frequent, but found no information. In the end, Qingyuan could only go to Biguixuan.

There was no one in sight.

As night deepened and lights came on in every household, Qingyuan felt increasingly uneasy and nervous.

Something must have happened to Hongdou.

Her first thought was of Jiang Qingge; how could she do such a heinous thing!

Qingyuan had no choice but to rush to the authorities to report the case, like a headless fly. When she arrived, her eyes involuntarily reddened.

Chu Jingxian had just returned from outside the city and was sitting upright in his carriage when Chen Sha suddenly stopped the carriage: "Qingyuan?! Young Master, it's Miss Qingyuan!!"

Upon hearing the carriage, and as Qingyuan approached, Chu Jingxian heard the faint sobbing of a woman.

His heart tightened, and his brows furrowed: "Qingyuan, what's wrong? Were you bullied somewhere?"